Important Lessons That You Can Pick Up in the Corporate World

November 27, 2017 , Amanda Sura

Have you ever wished work was easier and you didn’t have to work so hard at working at it? Well, life isn’t a bed of roses and it’s important to take it with a pinch of salt especially when it comes to landing your dream job.

Though trying, aim to steer away from being demotivated, flustered, or have the urge to give up completely when facing challenges at work. Part of being a professional means overcoming the hardships presented and growing from there. Leaders become better leaders when they take in the lessons they’ve experienced. They become effective problem solvers, mentors, and role models. The truth is, perfection is unattainable but an optimistic perspective and perseverance can overcome that reality to produce good outcomes.

Take responsibility and give your best when it comes to achieving self-development goals and successes in your career. Thus, don’t be afraid to fall and bounce back up again; it’s a reflection of your initiative and effort to try rather than remain idle and comfortable with zero results.

Gain Your Superior’s Trust

Be brave and say yes to taking up bigger and more daunting tasks from your bosses when the opportunity arises. With this said, the task should, of course be in line with your job scope or be something you’re keen on exploring; else it could backfire on you. You don’t want to underperform in this area. When bosses notice your interest to learn and partake in a new project, they’ll value your presence in the organisation.

Show how you can use your talents and skills to elevate your department’s performance or create a better work environment for your organisation. Embrace your organisation’s mission, take note of your boss’s goals, and do your job well. These key things will accelerate your career path in due time. Lastly, be mindful and respect your superior’s time. As busy as they are, if they set aside time to be in your presence, ensure that you have prepared sufficient content to share with them.

Know Your Value

While it’s easy to feel like you’re not good enough for the company, team, or even your job – stop telling yourself so. Self-confidence does wonders and being conscious of your strengths and weaknesses is helpful. The ‘woe is me’ mentality acts as an excuse and often times, it does more damage than good.

To realise your strengths and weaknesses objectively, you can refer to past appraisals or request for weekly feedbacks from your superior with an interest in self-improvement. Pay attention to your patterns. What do people normally say to you when you complete a job task or handle responsibilities well? Do they praise you for your execution and timeliness? Your methods or strategies? Or your PR skills in handling crisis or people- management? Recognising your patterns will determine your best qualities and qualities you can improve on.

Another way to lift up your spirits is to convince yourself of your worth. In short, your self-belief system. Faith Hickman Brynie, author of Brain Sense: The Science of the Senses and How We Process the World Around Us states that the placebo cure rate works. The results show an average of 72% positive. Take note that the placebo cure effect is not part of deception but it’s a result of forecasting. As the human brain anticipate an outcome, it draws a particular result it wants to achieve. This self-belief then materialises because it’s so strong. So, it’s proven that to be successful you must believe whole-heartedly. Believe that you are enough and capable to reach goals set by your leaders.

Learn to Let Go of the Things You Can’t Control

Don’t sweat the small stuff and control your temper. The ‘it’s just work’ mantra makes for good advice. Rather than getting frustrated with a situation or a mistake, it’s best to just move forward and focus on the next big thing. It may be easier said than done, but if you do not manage your frustrations well, it will be detrimental to your health and surroundings. Forgive if someone has wronged you and vice versa. You’re only human and you learn from your mistakes. With that said, the vital thing to keep in mind is not to take making mistakes for granted too. Do your best to avoid being redundant and concentrate.

Being true to yourself will also help greatly. Train your mind to pick out tasks that matter most and prioritise on the ones given by your direct superior. In the earlier stages, you will find it hard to differentiate between ruminating and problem-solving, but after doing it often you will be able to identify and succeed in handling it.

Be Nice and Kind

It truly is a better way to live and work. Be gracious and exude positivity at your workplace. Being nice is also a form of respect and everyone deserves to be treated well despite differences. Bring flowers for a colleague who’s celebrating her birthday or help a colleague out when he or she wants to learn a new technical skill which you’re familiar with. Communication also improves between each other thanks to a good attitude and hearty energy. Stress levels will lessen and your surrounding will be bearable despite having a hectic work schedule. This makes stress management possible.

Being affable doesn’t mean forgetting to be assertive. Keep boundaries clear but with a pleasant attitude. Studies have shown that relationships strengthen and trust exists when proper communication is practiced. When people trust you, you get better interactions, minimal disruption in your workflow, and may even get paid better. So go ahead, be that thoughtful colleague!

In conclusion, your career will take you places and bring your through a rollercoaster of experiences. You will have good days and bad days but with a mindset that’s ready to learn and improve, you’ll inch closer to being an influential and good leader. All the best!